diff --git a/tipbot.py b/tipbot.py
index e70dd9a..1b6a3a9 100644
--- a/tipbot.py
+++ b/tipbot.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ irc_port = 6667
 irc_homechan = '#txtptest000'
 irc_timeout_seconds = 600
 irc_send_delay = 0.4
+irc_welcome_line = 'Welcome to the freenode Internet Relay Chat Network'
 
 redis_host="127.0.0.1"
 redis_port=7777
@@ -973,7 +974,7 @@ while True:
     # consider any IRC data as a ping
     last_ping_time = time.time()
 
-    if data.find ( 'Welcome to the freenode Internet Relay Chat Network' ) != -1:
+    if data.find ( irc_welcome_line ) != -1:
       userstable = dict()
       registered_users.clear()
       SendTo("nickserv", "IDENTIFY %s" % GetPassword())